The loss of BrioQuery and innocence
As some may have heard, our friend BrioQuery is going to be going away soon. There is a lot to say and learn about BrioQuery, but it is safe to say that this transition impacts the UMHS citizens in a number of ways and unfortunately it is not perceived as all that positive. It is necessary to move to new technologies but it is equally as necessary that you are equipped with some basic knowledge about why the transition must occur. We as IT boffins probably do not use this application all that much, but it is at the core of many customer's functions and it produces quite a large number of operational and research related artifacts that many other people depend upon here.
What is BrioQuery?: BrioQuery is a product that at one time was produced by a nifty little company called Brio Technology . It was a functional, not really glam, but trusted utility that could make quick and easy SQL, database table joins, and assist statisticians with data mining efforts. Through a number of tactical decisions in MCIT and MSIS over the past decade or so, BrioQuery found it's way into our customer base and while it wasn't ballyhooed, it was adopted as a de facto standard tool for performing these functions. Quietly and diligently we provided some distribution and technical support for the package and merrily along we went.
What is that important to UMHS?: UMHS has an incredible amount of data. Seriously... we have a mega-fun-ton of both structured and unstructured data. Data collection and manipulation is the lifeblood of how all three missions of the UMHS function. To that end MSIS: Delivery has a significant talent and investment in Data Management Services led by Mary Hill and her team. This team develops these data solutions and products for the Medical School and are but one part of a lattice of data management teams and efforts spread across the Health System. Without them, the place simply would not be able to function or progress. From financial data to patient care outcomes research to faculty affairs, data management services gets us through the day and prepares us for tomorrow.
But If it's so darn important then why is it going away? You Barbarian!: Brio Technologies is now part of the Oracle Inc. corporate family and the BrioQuery product was put out to pasture. Our version of BrioQuery isn't fully functional on Windows 7 and since we have to say goodbye to our friend Windows XP as well, we have ourselves a bit of a problem. Unfortunately Oracle and Microsoft did not talk to each other the night that this was decided and while they were heating their homes and lighting their cigars with the aggregated millions of the UMHS dollars they have; we have to determine some course of action.
But I know BrioQuery DOES work on Windows 7 You Liar!: Well... kinda. The BrioQuery version we have will install on Windows 7 but if the saved query used calculated fields, then it blows up a bit. I can't advocate that we continue to install an old version of software onto Windows 7 that just kinda works.
But I know the there is a version of BrioQuery that will work on WIndows 7 WITH calculated fields You Human Paraquat!: Well... kinda. There is somewhere out there alien-life in the universe and indeed somewhere out there with it is BrioQuery that works with Windows 7. However, we don't own it, Oracle won't sell it to us and we can't find it on craigslist or ebay.
But we are the University of Michigan Health System! Go make them do our bidding! You Coward!: Well.. I can't . Even with all the might of the blessed UMHS... we don't have that kind of pull with Oracle. Tis the way it is.
What will replace it?: Well...not one single thing will replace it. Remember BrioQuery did a couple things really well, and there is not a big market for user-friendly, table-joining, data mining, decentralized, ad hoc reporting app. We are working on some recommended alternatives, but with the Windows 7 and the MiChart and the whathaveyous there is a lot to consider and adjust to.
What is being done about this?: A joint team between UMHS Finance, MSIS, and MCIT are working together as we speak and I participate in that along with equally motivated IT people from across the UMHS. It is really a good example of us working together. We have a project manager leading the effort now, we have done half a dozen demos of different software packages and end user consulting is on going in the development of a recommendation for Brio users to consider. We have scoured SCCM looking for users, spoken with key areas that we know to be heavy data users, and surveyed the Health System. We know that this is not really a welcome transition but we have an obligation to help in any way we can to assist our users in a positive way while making progress on this inevitability. When there is more to report, I will be sending out additional information. Should this topic come up in conversations with your customers, try to help carry the weight of this sensitive matter and ensure you are not throwing either MSIS, Finance, or MCIT under the collective bus in the conversation. It is just the nature of IT that we sometimes have to carry the ire of our customers even when the circumstances are somewhat out of our direct control.
Be subject to each other and Good Morning
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